The U.S. Supreme Court rejects Mississippi's challenge to the Military Reconstruction Acts.

The states of Georgia and Mississippi, led by their provisional governors, hoped to have the Military Reconstruction Acts declared unconstitutional and had filed suit against President Johnson and the executive for enforcing them.  Arguments were made before the United States Supreme Court on April 12, 1867 and three days later Chief Justice Salmon Chase gave the pronouncement of the Court.  Chase dismissed Mississippi's claims, stating that the executive branch was carrying out the law as defined by the legislative branch and the judiciary could not intervene.  Georgia's case was similarly rejected the following month, on May 13, 1867.  (By John Osborne)